Credentials

Services

Ages

Adults, Kids, Teenagers

Events

Vertical Jump, Shuttle Run, Broad Jump, 40 Yard Dash

Specialties

Vertical, Lateral Quickness, Footwork, Explosion, Acceleration

More About Coach Daniel

My experiences are greatly varied, ranging from Professional and Olympic level athletes, to special needs children as young as seven, and monitoring orthopedic rehabilitation of athletes and athletic individuals in a huge variety of sports (field, court, water, track, ice). My experiences are relevant and valuable to any and all athletes, I have been coaching in the New Jersey area for the past five years at Elite Sports Performance Center. During my time we were contracted by US Gymnastics, affiliated with US women's soccer, and Triumph Wrestling Club. I typically work with athletes middle school through college. My areas of expertise is in Movement (first step quickness, acceleration, deceleration, change of direction, explosive jumping, lateral movement, landing mechanics, multi-directional movement) Strength and Conditioning (Olympic lifts, Power lifts, Kettle bells, explosive medicine ball drills), Injury Reduction (stabilization, mobilization, muscle activation and potentiation), Sports Nutrition, and Mental Readiness and Strategy. I was the Performance coach for NJ SKY BLUE women's soccer for two seasons. Some other notable athletes trained include NFL, MLB, USWNT Soccer, US Field Hockey, and many more.

I hold certifications in Strength and Conditioning and Nutrition
-CSCS,*D (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction) which is the gold standard in the Industry, only recognized certification by the NCAA and US professional sports organizations. I re-certified with Distinction in December which means I went above and beyond to distinguish myself among my peers.

-USAW1 (United States Weightlifting)

-TSAC-F,*D (Tactical facilitator with Distinction) Certifies me to train and coordinate with tactical professionals such as military, police, firefighters, EMT's as well as tactical athletes like UFC, wrestling, jiu jitsu, etc...

-Precision Nutrition 1 (sports based nutritional coaching, built on outcome based decision making and simplifying nutrition to a point that is attainable, sustainable, and enjoyable for all types of athletes)

I hold a number of other lesser known certifications and credentials, for a comprehensive list, please ask.
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I competed in Track and Field (Javelin) at the University of Kansas. During that time, I was recognized as an Academic All-American in my senior campaign and All-BIG XII in each of my competitive seasons. After college I took up other athletic endeavors, winning Delaware's strongest man in 2013, East Coast regional Olympic Weightlifting title in 2014, various other strength based competitions, and was identified by US bobsled for participation in their Olympic Development Camps.

My typical sessions are catered to what the athlete needs. I will assess the athlete and converse with them to find out their goals, and identify weakness and inefficiency. The athlete can choose to work on movement (lateral and linear), Plyometrics (Jumps and Explosive med ball throws), Strength and Conditioning (I will teach Olympic movements if desired to learn, total body training to reduce injury risk, improve athletic performance, and build mental resiliency/toughness), Nutrition, Vision (mental side of competition)

I am not a sport coach. I do not teach soccer passing drills or route running or improve your swing. What I do is make you more capable and better prepared to exhibit all the qualities of an athlete which will make you better at every aspect of your sport. You will have better awareness of your body, how to turn on the right muscle groups, proper preparation, warm up protocols, recovery methods, and mental practices to make the most out of EVERY opportunity and take advantage EVERY time

Action Photos

Client Reviews

Taylor Racciopi, Duke Women's Soccer #7 (Testimonial)

Coach Dan was instrumental in my transition from training as a high schooler to preparing for Division 1 college athletics. Dan knew how to push me and what was necessary to better prepare me for the next level. From small muscle specific movements to body positioning and proper form, Dan covered all of the technical parts of training as an elite athlete. On top of running great individualized sessions, Dan always motivated me to push myself, to improve my weight room numbers/conditioning times, have confidence in myself, and be a better teammate.
http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=210238212

Timothy Wright, Super Bowl XLIX Champion (Testimonial)

In 2016, already a Super Bowl Champion and a player playing at the top of my game, I was ready to have a stand out season. Instead, I unfortunately went down with a injury tearing my ACL. Interestingly enough, I knew about a physical therapy center that was close to where I lived called Elite Physical Therapy. I was granted the option to do my therapy at home, so I did further research and found out Elite’s Head therapist was Sharon Wentworth who I met 10 years prior. From that moment I knew this was the right place for me. My first day in therapy, I was introduced to Dan Hitman, a performance coach Sharon worked closely with and that she trusted to train me on my road back. If it wasn't for that injury I wouldn't have met Dan The Hitman and the amazing group at Elite Physical Therapy and R.Y.P.T. (Reach Your Potential Training). Almost two years removed from the surgery and rehab, it was the best decision to get my therapy and performance needs taken care of by Elite and R.Y.P.T. Aside from my wonderful experience I had at Elite, myself and Dan grew extremely close. Under the systematic structure of R.Y.P.T. and the protocol of Elite, Dan was able to add his personal touch that took me to the next level. His energy, attention to detail, revolutionary science behind the reasons for what he coached and why he coached it, left a lasting impression on my game to this day. Most importantly his reliability, consistency, and selfless personality made our relationship the way it is today, mainly because I also believe in those same traits. Today, I am back on the field playing for the Kansas City Chiefs and it wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for Dan. I want to personally thank the Hitman, for all he did for me, and I highly recommend anyone that has performance, fitness and health goals. Dan is the man that will deliver what your looking for and will take you beyond your goals. Much Love!
https://www.chiefs.com/team/players-roster/tim-wright/

When I was 16 years old I was an un-recruited pitcher with shoulder problems, staring my baseball career down the barrel. That is when I met Dan, and we started on a mission, together. Dan personally guided me through all aspects of my rehabilitation including physical therapy, functional strength training, conditioning, mental endurance, and nutrition. Dan even took the time to meet me at a local football field to make sure I got my throwing in after grueling days of work. This man goes above and beyond the call of duty, and he does it because he cares about his athletes more than anything in the world. “A productive coaching relationship begins with two people with fires in their bellies: one who wants to desperately move forward and another who yearns to help that person make the journey,” - James Belasco. Dan completely embodies the meaning behind this quote. In my mind, the only way I would ever reach my dreams is if I have somebody in my corner who believes in me, challenges me, and pushes me as far as I need to go to be successful. Today I am 20 years old and entering my third year of Division 1 baseball. Not only am I a better baseball player, but a better person because of the time I spent with Dan. He helped prepare me to not only excel at the next level, but do it the right way. I absolutely would not be where I am today without Dan Hitman.
http://www.goleopards.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/kenny_campbell_1019236.html

Elijah McAllister- OLB at Vanderbuilt University #41 (Testimonial)

My name is Elijah McAllister and I am currently a freshman Outside Linebacker at Vanderbilt University. I first met Coach Dan after tearing my first ACL in the summer of 2016. Instantly Dan and I began to form a strong bond. Soon enough he wasn't just another coach or trainer I'd go see 5 times a week but he was a friend, mentor, and brother. After tearing my second ACL in February of my Junior year he was the second person I called to confirm the injury, second to only my dad. When I broke the news he told me "you will overcome this. It's time to go back to work". That is a testament to how highly I think of Coach Dan. Here we are today after two major knee surgeries, countless life lessons, and many Chipotle dinners. I still text Dan when I need sport or life advice even though we're many miles apart. He helped me work back from two major knee surgeries both physically and mentally. I put on 25 pounds and went from probably redshirting to possibly playing meaningful snaps for a SEC team as a true freshman and most of that is due to our relationship. He kept my head on straight and helped me focus and that is why I'm where I am today.
http://www.vucommodores.com/signingday/2017vunsd-mcallister.html

Jamie R, mother to student-athlete (Testimonial)

Dan Hitman is a phenomenal strength and agility coach. He trained my son, a special needs individual, for over a year. If Dan hadn't moved across the country my son would have chosen to train with coach Dan forever. Dan made the sessions both fun and productive. He explained skills and drills in a simple manner and was very in tune with my son's capabilities. A lot of the training was focused on running form and body mechanics as my son runs cross country and track. Dan was a very effective communicator between my son and I to make sure that the sessions were as well suited and productive for his goals as possible. It was a joy to work with coach Dan for my son and for me as a parent.

We have known Dan Hitman since 2014, when we met him at Reach Your Potential Training in Tinton Falls, NJ. Dan trained our son, who is now 18 years old and a decathlete at Duke University. Dan also helped rehab our 16 year old daughter after her ACL tear, and continued to train her when rehab was complete. She is fully recovered and back pursuing her goal of becoming a D1 athlete at a major university. In a time when many trainers attempt to use cookie cutter, one size fits all plans with clients, Dan Hitman stands out. He is hands-on, responsive, caring, and effective. Dan's work ethic, accessibility, and professionalism have brought our relationship to a point where we trust and rely on him for all aspects of training our children. Dan provides stability and continuity that our kids appreciate and respect. He connects with them. He motivates them. He improves them. Dan sets a great example for our kids. His morals are of the highest caliber, and his ethics are unwavering. We are fortunate to have a relationship with Dan, and are thankful for how much time and energy he has invested to shape our children physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually over these past five years.
Please accept this as a letter of support for Daniel Hitman's body of work, and his person.

Kenny Campbell- Starting Pitcher at Lafayette College (Testimonial)

When I was 16 years old I was an un-recruited pitcher with shoulder problems, staring my baseball career down the barrel. That is when I met Dan, and we started on a mission, together. Dan personally guided me through all aspects of my rehabilitation including physical therapy, functional strength training, conditioning, mental endurance, and nutrition. Dan even took the time to meet me at a local football field to make sure I got my throwing in after grueling days of work. This man goes above and beyond the call of duty, and he does it because he cares about his athletes more than anything in the world. “A productive coaching relationship begins with two people with fires in their bellies: one who wants to desperately move forward and another who yearns to help that person make the journey,” - James Belasco. Dan completely embodies the meaning behind this quote. In my mind, the only way I would ever reach my dreams is if I have somebody in my corner who believes in me, challenges me, and pushes me as far as I need to go to be successful. Today I am 20 years old and entering my third year of Division 1 baseball. Not only am I a better baseball player, but a better person because of the time I spent with Dan. He helped prepare me to not only excel at the next level, but do it the right way. I absolutely would not be where I am today without Dan Hitman.

Elijah McAllister- OLB at Vanderbuilt University (Testimonial)

My name is Elijah McAllister and I am currently a freshman Outside Linebacker at Vanderbilt University. I first met Coach Dan after tearing my first ACL in the summer of 2016. Instantly Dan and I began to form a strong bond. Soon enough he wasn't just another coach or trainer I'd go see 5 times a week but he was a friend, mentor, and brother. After tearing my second ACL in February of my Junior year he was the second person I called to confirm the injury, second to only my dad. When I broke the news he told me "you will overcome this. It's time to go back to work". That is a testament to how highly I think of Coach Dan. Here we are today after two major knee surgeries, countless life lessons, and many Chipotle dinners. I still text Dan when I need sport or life advice even though we're many miles apart. He helped me work back from two major knee surgeries both physically and mentally. I put on 25 pounds and went from probably redshirting to possibly playing meaningful snaps for a SEC team as a true freshman and most of that is due to our relationship. He kept my head on straight and helped me focus and that is why I'm where I am today.